A significant long duration M1.1 solar flare occurred on March 15 (06:58 UTC) associated with a large full halo coronal mass ejection (CME). The arrival of the CME near 06:00 UTC on March 17 triggered a 12 hour-long geomagnetic storm and colorful Northern Lights in Alaska.

It was a spectacular night with colorful Northern Lights combined with dozens of shooting stars and a beautiful alignment of Jupiter, Venus and the Pleiades with a crescent Moon at dawn. The visual feast began when colorful auroral displays became visible near 22:15 pm (PDT) on July 14 (05:15 UTC on July 15).